Folding chair



March 5, 1940. w n CONNOR, JR 2,192,672

FOLDING CHAIR Filed July 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l In. lll llumlllllllllll -(f ZZZ. Coizizofi J1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1940. w CQNNQR, JR 2,192,672

FOLDING CHAIR Filed July 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W3 Canaan J7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CHAIR William 1). Connor, J22, Lanna, Wis, assignor to The Connor Lumber Wis.

Application July 20,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to folding chairs, one of the objects being to provide a chair having arms and a back so arranged and connected relative to the legs and feet as to allow the chair to be folded into a compact structure for convenient storage and transportation.

A further object is to provide a chair which is durable in construction, attractive, and affords a comfortable seat for the user.

A still further object is to provide a chair the sturdy construction of which renders it especial ly desirable for outdoor use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair set up for use.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the chair with the parts positioned as in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the chair partly folded.

Figure 4 is a similar View showing the chair completely folded.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates the rear legs of the chair each of which is preferably formed of a flat strip of wood the upper end of which is beveled as at 2 while pivotally connected to this leg I near its upper end are straps 3 which lap the sides of the leg and are joined thereto as at 4. These straps are substantially L-shaped and have arms 5 which extend along and are suitably secured to the side edges of the front legs 6 which are also formed of flat strips of wood and are preferably beveled at their upper ends, as shown at I so that when the legs are swung relative to each other so that their free ends will move apart, the upper beveled end I of each leg 6 will come against and fit snugly upon the adjacent surface of the rear leg 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The front legs 6 are connected by a cross strip 8 constituting a seat support and another cross strip 9 connects the rear legs I and also constitutes a seat support. A seat I 0 formed preferably of slats is hingedly connected at II to the cross & Land Company, Leona,

1938, Serial No. 220,371

strip 9 and is adapted to be supported by the cross strip 8, this seat being formed with front and rear cross strips 12 and I3 on the bottom surface thereof, the front strip I3 being adapted to lie in front of and contact with strip 8 when the seat, is set up for use as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus the seat and its strip l3 constitutes a means for holding the legs I and 6 against spreading when subjected to the weight of an occupant of the chair.

Arms it formed of relatively broad strips of wood are provided at their side edges with metal straps I5 the forward ends of which are downturned as at it and lap and are pivotally connected to the sides of legs I adjacent to the upper end thereof as shown. These straps'are so located and proportioned that when this chair is set up for use, the arms I4 will bear downwardly on the beveled upper ends 2 of therear legs I.

Straps ll preferably of metal are secured to the side edges of the arms I4 at the rear ends thereof and the rear ends of these straps are preferably upturned as at I8 and pivotally connected, as at I9, to the sides of a chair back 20 formed preferably of connected slats. Links 2| are pivotally connected at 22 to the sides of the back 20 adjacent the lower ends thereof and are also pivotally connected as at 23 to the legs I at points below the strip 9. These links are so located and proportioned as to constitute braces or backings for the lower portion of back 20 when the sides of said back are resting on the legs I as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Obviously with the parts positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the structure will constitute a strong and comfortable chair which is very rigid.

When it is desired to collapse or fold the chair, the upper end of the back 20 is swung forwardly so as to impart a forward tilt to the chair. This will cause the lower portion of the back to swing backwardly between links 2i so that the parts will thus fold as shown in Figure 3, the arms I4 moving to positions in front of the back and parallel therewith. By lifting seat in so as to disengage strip I3 from strip 8, said seat can be folded between the arms I l and legs 6 then folded back against or toward the legs I so that the parts ultimately will assume the positions shown in Figure 4, thus providing a very compact bundle, convenient for storage and transportation.

To set up the chair for use the foregoing operation is reversed. The front legs 6 are swung forwardly relative to the legs I, the seat I0 dropped into position on the strip 8 with the cross strip 13 in front of said strip 8, and the back 20 is then swung upwardly and its lower end moved forwardly onto legs I whereupon the chair is ready for use.

For the purpose of reenforcing the hinge connections some of the hinge straps can be formed with ears 24 which lap the adjacent chair members and serve to transmit thrust thereto, thereby relieving the pivots from excessive strains,

What is claimed is:

A foldable chair including front and back legs hingedly connected at all times for movement into position parallel with each other or into downwardly diverging positions, a seat hingedly connected at all times to and supported between the back legs, cooperating means on the seat and front legs for holding said legs against spreading while in downwardly diverging positions, arms hingedly connected at all times to the back legs and movable into position substantially parallel therewith when the chair folded, a back hingedly connected at all times to the arms and constituting means for resting on the back legs to support the arms at one end when the chair is set up for use, and links connecting the lower ends of the back to the rear legs for holding said back in contact with said legs when the chair is set up for use and for limiting the movement of the back when the chair is collapsed, thereby to guide the back into position substantially parallel with the legs, seat and arms the upper ends of the back legs constituting stops and supports for the arms when the chair is set up for use, and said legs, arms, back and seat being connected and proportioned to fold together into parallel planes with the seat between and in the same plane with the back legs.

WILLIAM D. CONNOR, JR. 

